Family formals are formally posed group portraits of your family on your wedding day. Casually posed, well-lit, camera-aware. These are the images for the frames on your walls, your family’s albums, your album.
I fully realize the family formal session will be no one’s favorite part of the wedding day. You are celebrating, joyous, interacting with the people around you. Who wants to stop that and line up and smile at a camera? I understand that completely. My goal is to make these sessions easy-going, light, and extremely efficient. Family formals do not replace the documentary moments between you and the people you love. They supplement the coverage.
How to prepare for family formals
About six weeks before your wedding, I will send you my Wedding Day Worksheet. The most important section covers family formal groupings. I will ask you the following:
How many people are in your wedding party? What are your parents’ names? Do you have siblings? What are their names? What are your partner’s parents’ names? Do they have siblings? Who is in your extended family? Who is in your partner’s extended family? Are there any situations we should be aware of, such as deaths or divorces, so we can address everyone correctly?
After establishing this, I will ask specifically about your portraits. Will family formals be before or after the ceremony? What groupings would you like? I provide a checklist of basics and leave space for you to add anything additional. This list directly determines how much time we need to budget.
How many groupings should we choose?
Completely up to you. I can help consult on an efficient list, or you can make the final decisions yourself. Plan on four to five minutes per grouping of more than four people. The basic list takes about half an hour. Any groupings beyond that take two to five minutes, depending on size.
Share this list with everyone who needs to be there. I also highly recommend padding the timing when you share it with family. If we are planning to start at noon, tell everyone to arrive at 11:45. If we are shooting immediately after the ceremony, let everyone know to stick around. The more your family understands how important these images are to you, the more likely they are to be on time and ready.
Where should we take family formals?
Sometimes the location is chosen for convenience. If we are in a church or synagogue, it can be easier to stay there. If you have another idea, I would love to hear it. I can also suggest options if you are not sure.
A few things to keep in mind. We need enough room for the groupings and enough room for me to use a longer lens. A longer lens is more flattering for faces and bodies. If I am in a tight space, I have to use a wide-angle lens, which is less flattering. Choosing an ideal space makes a real difference in the final images.
Church and synagogue altars work well since they are already decorated for your ceremony. Outdoor ceremony setups often work too. Outside, a simple backdrop of trees or foliage is ideal. Inside, staircases can work, as can empty ballrooms. Avoid positioning your group right up against a building or wall, as it will be hard to show any context.
If you need any help choosing your location for your family formals, please don’t hesitate to reach out. As with all aspects of the wedding day, I am glad to help as much as I can!
